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Weston hospital staff shortages pose safety fears CQC says Weston hospital staff shortages pose safety fears CQC says
(34 minutes later)
Staff shortages at a North Somerset hospital pose "a risk to patients' safety", a health watchdog has found.Staff shortages at a North Somerset hospital pose "a risk to patients' safety", a health watchdog has found.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it had "serious concerns" over safety in emergency care and medical services at Weston General Hospital.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it had "serious concerns" over safety in emergency care and medical services at Weston General Hospital.
This is the third year running staff shortages have been found to be compromising standards of health care.This is the third year running staff shortages have been found to be compromising standards of health care.
Weston Area Health NHS Trust has recognised the need for "an urgent focus on safety".Weston Area Health NHS Trust has recognised the need for "an urgent focus on safety".
'Insufficient cubicles''Insufficient cubicles'
The CQC report was written after the hospital was inspected in May and June. The CQC report was written after the hospital was inspected in May and June and did also highlight the trust's "good" rating for caring and praise from patients.
It found the hospital did not have enough senior doctors and there were high numbers of vacancies for consultants. But the report also found the hospital did not have enough senior doctors and there were high numbers of vacancies for consultants.
Some junior doctors said that at times they felt pressured to carry out tasks unsupervised and some said they had been asked to perform tasks that they did not feel fully competent to perform.Some junior doctors said that at times they felt pressured to carry out tasks unsupervised and some said they had been asked to perform tasks that they did not feel fully competent to perform.
In the high care unit on Harptree ward, inspectors found insufficient numbers of appropriately qualified and skilled nurses to care for high dependency patients.In the high care unit on Harptree ward, inspectors found insufficient numbers of appropriately qualified and skilled nurses to care for high dependency patients.
In the emergency department the report said patients regularly queued in the corridor because there were insufficient cubicles and that this impacted on patient safety, comfort, privacy and dignity.In the emergency department the report said patients regularly queued in the corridor because there were insufficient cubicles and that this impacted on patient safety, comfort, privacy and dignity.
A hospital spokeswoman said the CQC had highlighted concerns in the department "during busy periods of high patient attendance".
The new trust chief executive, James Rimmer said as a result of the report he is now in discussions with surrounding trusts to share doctors and clinical work as a way of increasing medical staff numbers.The new trust chief executive, James Rimmer said as a result of the report he is now in discussions with surrounding trusts to share doctors and clinical work as a way of increasing medical staff numbers.
'Safety of patients''Safety of patients'
Mr Rimmer also said a new induction programme for junior doctors would increase their support, training and supervision by the consultant teams.Mr Rimmer also said a new induction programme for junior doctors would increase their support, training and supervision by the consultant teams.
The doctor's regulatory body, the General Medical Council (GMC), said it had "serious concerns" about aspects of care and training at the hospital and was monitoring its procedures.The doctor's regulatory body, the General Medical Council (GMC), said it had "serious concerns" about aspects of care and training at the hospital and was monitoring its procedures.
Part of that involves a series of inspection visits with the local medical education body, Health Education South West.Part of that involves a series of inspection visits with the local medical education body, Health Education South West.
"The evidence gathered both through our national survey and recent inspections has raised further concerns about the support for doctors in training," said Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC."The evidence gathered both through our national survey and recent inspections has raised further concerns about the support for doctors in training," said Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC.
The GMC said it had "sought and received assurances" about the safety of patients and had "required the trust to take immediate steps to resolve all the issues" that had been identified.The GMC said it had "sought and received assurances" about the safety of patients and had "required the trust to take immediate steps to resolve all the issues" that had been identified.
Mr Dixon added the situation would be kept under review and consideration would be given to whether "further action is required in the next two weeks".Mr Dixon added the situation would be kept under review and consideration would be given to whether "further action is required in the next two weeks".
The trust was rated as good for caring and staff received "overwhelmingly positive" praise and were described in the report by patients as "dedicated, "compassionate" and "kind and respectful".The trust was rated as good for caring and staff received "overwhelmingly positive" praise and were described in the report by patients as "dedicated, "compassionate" and "kind and respectful".
The trust provides acute hospital services and specialist community children's services to about 212,000 people in North Somerset and about 47,000 people in North Sedgemoor.The trust provides acute hospital services and specialist community children's services to about 212,000 people in North Somerset and about 47,000 people in North Sedgemoor.
The trust is in discussions regarding a takeover by Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.The trust is in discussions regarding a takeover by Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.